Wednesday, April 20, 2016

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

Bulletproof Symphony was released by Nevada-based boutique polish maker I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) as part of the Spring 2016 collection last month. Along with Rolling Hills, it's one of two new polishes from that collection to join ILNP's Ultra Metallics line, a series of lacquers specially formulated with ultra-thin metallic flakes.

Creator Barbra refers to Bulletproof Symphony as a mid-toned periwinkle, but I think it's more complex than that. Packed with silver flakies, it's almost startlingly reflective, which both lightens the base color and makes it more difficult to classify than you would think. It's not a dark polish given how silvery it is, but to my eye the jelly base is something along the lines of a dark blue-grey with lively violet undertones that come to the fore in direct light especially. In addition to the silver flakies, it bears a judicious dose of holographic pigment, less than some of the other Ultra Metallics I've tried but enough to give it a scattering of brilliant prismatic sparks in the sun that appear to float over the flakies, which take on an extraordinary near-molten aspect with a strong violet tint. It's jawdropping, seriously, and pretty much impossible to capture accurately on camera. I think I see some extra shimmers in there as well, iridescent particles that occasionally flash bright red, absolutely stunning against the silvery blue-grey. Application was delicious. Whenever I work with an ILNP formula I experience a heart-swelling surge of gratitude for just how consistently user-friendly they are. Love! The consistency of Bulletproof Symphony is fluid, light and smooth with a medium consistency and an effortless, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail. Pigmentation of the base is sheer -- opacity is provided by the flakies. Two coats of polish will give a satisfactory appearance of wearably opaque coverage, but I much prefer the look at three coats, which has a noticeably denser opacity and a richer, more opulent appearance overall. Cleanup, for me, was a mess. Despite the awesome formula I still managed abundant swipage, and even though I went after it immediately while the polish was still wet the silver flakies dispersed themselves with abandon over my nail environs. Oh well. Either it's alright or it's too bad, as Fuzzy likes to say. Bulletproof Symphony dries naturally to a smooth finish that is so shiny it makes the application of topcoat feel positively redundant. But topcoat anyway!Photos show three coats of Bulletproof Symphony over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

ILNP Bulletproof Symphony

High glamor a bit of futuristic edginess!

If you love metallics, this polish is for you! And it goes without saying that the name is deeply cool. How could you NOT want a polish called Bulletproof Symphony?xo,Liz

2 comments:

That looks like it would be a tough polish to describe but you did an excellent job. I try to put in a short description of my polish in my spread sheet - this one would have me scratching my head! I love your photos!

Thanks, Lara! I have to admit that I think ILNP's Ultra Metallics are the very devil to photograph. To me, what you see in the photos is vastly different from the experience of the polish in person. Something about the dimensionality is off somehow. I don't know how to describe it....